Lyrics From The 50s - Final Instalment! Quiz

Answer: Heartbreak Hotel

Presley's first hit and first #1. Many, many more would follow.

Answer: Rock And Roll Waltz

Kay Starr saw her mom and dad trying to "waltz to a rock and roll song". Kay started her career as a big band singer with Joe Venuti's Orchestra as a 15 year old in 1937. This, far and away, was her biggest hit of the rock era as a #1 for six weeks. She did have a bigger hit in 1952 with "Wheel Of Fortune", a #1 for ten weeks.

Answer: Tonight You Belong To Me

This song was originally a hit for Gene Austin in 1927 and was also performed by Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters in the movie "The Jerk". Patience and Prudence did the song in 1956, followed it up with another moderate hit "Gonna Get Along Without You Now" then vanished!

Answer: Oh Boy

Buddy Holly's third hit, I can't believe that this never was a #1, only peaking at #10 in January 1958.

Answer: Great Balls Of Fire

This was Jerry Lee Lewis' second big hit (his first was "Whole Lotta Shakin'..) and it was a #2 song for four weeks in 1958. See the movie of the same name for an entertaining biography of this rock legend with a very interesting history.

Answer: Little Darlin'

The big hit (#2 for five weeks in 1957 - it couldn't oust Presley's "All Shook Up" from the top spot) was by the Canadian group The Diamonds who stole it from The Gladiolas. Maurice Williams was lead singer of The Gladiolas and it was he who composed the song. Later, The Gladiolas became Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs and they had a #1 in 1960 with "Stay" which was later recorded by The Four Seasons and later still by Jackson Browne. Got all that?

Answer: Rock Island Line

Kind of tough to invent song titles for those lyrics! This was a #8 song for Lonnie Donegan who, of course, was the leader of a British skiffle band and a major formative influence on the Beatles. The song itself was associated with Hudie Ledbetter (Leadbelly), the great Afro-American blues and folk singer.

Answer: Magic Moments

Another classic from Perry Como, it was a #4 song in 1958. However, at the age of 46, he was slowing down a bit and he would only have two top ten hits after this one... "Kewpie Doll" three months later and "It's Impossible", thirteen YEARS later!

Answer: Jamaica Farewell

Many people believe that Harry Belafonte was born on some Caribbean island but, in fact, he first saw the light of day in 1927 in Harlem, New York. This was Harry's debut hit charting in November 1956 and eventually peaking at #14. He had six top forty songs, all charting between between November 1956 and July 1957 when calypso was at it's zenith in popularity. Belafonte sustained his career with dynamic live performances (he still tours) and is renowned for his altruism and work with UNESCO as it's goodwill ambassador.

A great man.

Answer: Tallahassee

"Tallahassee Lassie" was 19 year old Freddie Cannon's first hit (#6) in the summer of 1959. The song was written by his mother. He would have eight top forty songs until his last hit in 1965.

Answer: Dark Moon

There were two competing versions on the charts of this Ned Miller song in 1957: the countrified version by Bonny Guitar peaked at #6 and Gale Storm's pop version reached #4. Gale Storm is unique in the annals of Billboard charting - every one of her six top 40 hits actually became top 10 hits! Never been done before or since! Still, she is perhaps more famous for her T.V. work in "My Little Margie" from 1952-55 and "The Gale Storm Show" 1956-62.

Answer: Dream Lover

This was a #2 song for Bobby Darin in the summer of 1959. It was a self composition.

Answer: Misty

This is such a classic song, I was sure it had to be a bigger hit than it was... by all three artists who charted with their recording of this standard written by the jazz pianist Errol Garner earlier in the '50's. Johnny Mathis' peaked at #12 in 1959. Lloyd Price had a version that topped out at #21 in 1963. Finally, Ray Stevens' version maxed out at #14 in 1975.

The version performed in Eastwood's movie "Play Misty For Me" in 1971 is Garner's.

Answer: Charlie Brown

This was just one of the six top ten songs the Coasters had during the 50's. "Charlie Brown" was #2 for three weeks in 1959, unable to knock off the Fleetwoods "Come Softly To Me" from #1.

Answer: You Send Me

This debut song for Sam Cooke, written by Sam's brother, L.C. Cooke, was a #1 for three weeks. He's another artist of the 50's whose life ended in tragedy. He and a young woman, Lisa Boyer, went to a motel and registered as man and wife. Apparently, an argument ensued, Boyer ran to the manager's office and Cooke pursued her there where he was shot by the manageress of the motel.

She was found innocent of any wrongdoing, the coroner's office deeming the death as justifiable homicide. He was 33 at his death.

Answer: Frank Sinatra

The song itself, "High Hopes", was featured in the Sinatra movie "Hole In The Head". It only charted for one week at the #30 position in September 1959.

Answer: Lipstick On Your Collar

This was a #5 hit for Connie Francis in 1959 and one of sixteen top 10's she would have in her career. She was easily the top female recording act of the rock era 1950's.

Answer: Return To Me

I'm guessin' that "Retorna me" is the Italian translation of the song's English title. Dean Martin was at his crooning best with this lovely song that peaked at #4 in 1958.

Answer: Don't Be Cruel

One half of the biggest hit record of the 1950's rock era. #1 for eleven weeks in 1956.

Answer: Hound Dog

Of course, the flip side of "Don't Be Cruel", the performer, Elvis.
The king is dead... Long live the king!"

I enjoyed doing up this series of lyrics quizzes from the '50's and I sure hope you enjoyed doing them, reminiscing all the while. Maybe we'll see you in the early 60's!